Swiveling teeter



-A. B. CHRISTOPHER.

SWIVELING TEETER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14. 1920.

1,427,722; Patented Au 29; 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR A TTORNE Y A. B. CHRISTOPHER.

SWIVELING TEETER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. I4, 1920.

1 327,722 Patented Aug. 29, 1922 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.'

tlhiE EIt QFFI nn'rn'on n. onnrsrornnn, or sr. Louis, unseen-n.1, ASSIGNOR, er Mnsnn AssIeN- ivrnnrs, 'ro METALLIC innns'rnrns, Inc, a conrona'rron or DELAWARE.

SWIVELING TEETER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgllted A 29 1922 Application filed February 14:, 1920. Serial No. 358,563.

the frame is also constructed'so that it can be readily taken apart so that the parts of the teeter can be packed in a small space. A further object of the invention is to improve the general construction of a teeter of this type and to provide improved means for attaching the seats or saddles upon which the children sit. One of the purposes of the invention is to provide a construction which will be very inexpensive to manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter. I

The invention consists of the novel features, and in the general combination of parts to be particularly described herein after, all of which contribute to produce a simple and safe teeter or see-saw. A preferred embodiment of my invention will be particularly described in the following specification, while the broad scope of my in vention will be pointed out in the appended.

claims.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a plan of a teeter embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is an end elevation;

Figure 5 is a cross section. taken about in the plane of the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the center plate which constitutes a feature of the in vention'; and i Figure 5 is a side elevation of a base plate which supports the center plate.

The teeter comprises an upper frame 1, each side of which is formed of two side bars 2 and. 3 with overlapping portions a at their middle points, the said overlapping portions being connected together by removable bolts 5. At the overlapping portions a one of the side bars is oif-set so that the bodies of the side bars are in substantially the same plane,

giving the frame the. same width throughout the principal portion of its length. At each end the side bars have converging portions 6 which terminate in substantially parallel extensions 7. To the ends of the frame 1 saddles 8 are respectively attached. These saddles or seats are preferably attached to the extensions 7 and are preferablyformed of pressed sheets from which integral ears .9 are struck downwardly, said ears being attached by through bolts 10 to the extensions 7. The outer ends of the upper frame near the converging portions 6 are provided with cross braces 11, respectively, and opposite these cross, braces upwardly extending bracket plates 12 are provided which support transverse handles 13. These handles are within convenient reach of a child sitting upon the saddle or seat 8. Near the overlapping portions t the upper frame is provided with two transverse cross bars 14: and these are connected by horizontal slats 15, the outer ends of which are attached to the converging portions 6. These slats 15 have their flats in a horizontal plane.

In order to provide for giving the teeter frame a rocking movement, I provide the sidebars of the frame with downwardly extending straps 16 each consisting of a short flat bar which is riveted to the outer bar of the overlappingportion 4, but these rivets do not pass through both of the bars atthe overlapping portions; the lower ends of these side straps 16 carry a transversely, disposed bar forming a trunnion 17 which may consist of a tube, and in order to effectively brace these straps'I provide inclined braces 18 in the form of long flat bars. These braces have openings as in thestrap 16, which receive the trunnion 17, and the outer ends of the inclined braces 18 are attached at 18 to the upper frame near the ends thereof, preferably at the location of the cross bars 11. With this construction it will be evident that by removing the bolts 5, the trunnion 17 can operate as a pivot on which the two ends of the upper frame could fold together, it being understood, that the upper frame would be first removed from its support.

In otherwords the side bars 2 and 3 are secured together by means of adisconnecth ble joint.

I shall now describe the means for sup- 1 porting the upper frame'so that it can rock, and also so that it can have a pivotal movement, if desired.

For this purpose 1; provide supporting means including a base plate 19 which is in the form of a disc which is supported on suitable legs 20 by means of joint connections 21 between the legs and the base plate. These legs 20 incline outwardly in a downward direction and are connected together by braces 23 and 24. These joints 21 are so constructed that the legs will be. attached to the base plate by moving the same inwardly. or toward the center of the base plate, and when so constructed, it will be evident that the braces 23 and 2% will operate-to prevent. the logs from becoming detached from. 1e base plate atthese joints. To formzthe joints 21, I prefer to strilre outwardly projecting tongues 22 from this plate. The legs 20 are preferably in the form oitubes or pipes, thebottoms of which are bent upwardly to form feetthe upper ends of these legs form sle ves or sockets 26,

and-are benthorizontally and flattened out so as to enable themto be forced over'the tongues 22. The braces 23 and 24 can be constructed in any suitable manner; how.- ever, I prefer "that the brace 23 shall first connecttwo of the legs and then the brace 241- connect the brace 23-with the intermediate leg. For this purpose the brace 24: maybe providedwith a notch 27 :which engages a corresponding notch in the brace 23 (see Fig.

On the base plate I prefer to provide a center plate 28 which is alsoo't circular form, and this centei' plate carries brackets or cars for supporting the trunnion 1'7. They are preferably formed as integralears 29, bent upwardly from the edges of the disc or center plate .28. heseea-rs aretormed each with a-n'0tch' 30 which receives the end of the trunnion, (see Fig.

I In connection with the saddles or seats 6, it should .be mentioned that it is important that the extensions .7-should project a considerable distance beyond the bolts 10 and should engagetheunderside of the plate out of which the saddle or seat is formed. By giving these parts this relation, the projecting ends ofthe extensions 7 will prevent the saddle 8 from rotating in a rearward direction on the pivot bolt. In other words, the

plate forming the saddle rests on the frame at both sides of the bolt.

I It desired, the center plate can be attached to the base plate 19 by means of a center bolt 31, or king bolt (see Fig-n3). If such aking bolt is used the children playing with the teeter canuse it as a inerry-go-round.

Evidently-by removlng the bolts 32 which attach the braces .23and 24;to the legs 20, the legs can readily be detached from the .into. a neat bundle for shipment.

It is uncerstood that the embodiment of the invention described herein is only one of the many embodiments my invention may take, and 1 do not vish to be limited in the practice of my invention nor in my claims, to the particular embodiment set forth.

. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a teeter or see-saw, the combination of a center plate, means for supporting the same in a substantially horizontal position, a substantiallyhorizontal elongated upper frame comprising two separated bars, a substantially vertically disposed strap secured to each side bar and extending downwardly therefrom, a bar forming a trunnion extending transversely of the upper irame, secured to said vertical straps, and ears'projecting up from me center plate at opposite sides thereof and h ving soclrets open on their upperside, rotatably supporting the ends of said trunnion, said ears lying adjacent to the faces of said straps-respectively and preventing lateral movement of the upper frame on the center plate.

2. In a teeter or see-saw, thecombination of a center-plate, .a base plate supporting said centenplate, means for supporting said base plate at an elevation above the floor, said center-plate having integral ears projectii'sg upwardly therefrom, a substantially horizontal elongated upper-frame having side bars overlapping each other adjacent said center-plate, removable bolts forattaching the overlapping portions of said side bars to each other, substantially vertically disposec sidestraps at the overlapping part thereot, and extending downwardly therelrom at each side of the upperframe, carried by saidside bars, and a trunnion carried by said side straps and rotatably supported by said ears. v

Ina teeter or see-saw, the combination of a center-plate, a base plate beneath said center-plate, means for supporting said base plate at an elevation above the floor, said center-plate having integral ears projecting upwardly there'i rom, a substantially horizontal elongated upperdrame having side bars overlapping each-other adjacent said center-plate, removable bolts for attaching the over-lapping portions of said side bars to each other, sul'istantially vertically dis posed side straps at the overlapping part thereof, and extending downwardly therefrom at each side of the up per trame, carried by said side straps, a trunnion extending transversely and rotatably supported by said ears, and inclined braces attached tosaid trunnion adjacent to said side straps and securedto the said upper-frametoward the ends thereof.

1. In a teeteror see-saw, the combination of a center-plate, a base plate beneath said center-plate, a piuralityof legs having joint connections with said base plate and removable from the base plate at said joints, said legs inclining outwardly in a downward direction, braces connecting said legs to prevent spreading thereof and to maintain their joint connections with the base plate, a substantially elongated upper-frame mounted to rock on said center-plate and having side bars overlapping each other adjacent the center-plate, removable bolts connecting the overlapping portions of the side bars, side straps extending downwardly from the side bars adjacent the center-plate, a trunnion carried thereby, and inclined braces attached to said trunnion and attached at their outer ends to the upper-frame.

5:3. in a teeter or see-saw, the combination of a center-plate, a base plate for supporting the same, said base plate having outwardly projecting tongues struck therefrom, legs having sockets in the form of sleeves at their upper ends receiving said tongues, braces connecting said legs and operating as the means for holding said sockets on said tongues, said center-plate having upwardly extending integral ears, an pper-frame, and a transverse trunnion carried thereby and mounted to rock on said ears.

6. In a teeter or see-saw, the combination of a base plate having a plurality of tongues struck therefrom and projecting outwardly, a plurality of legs of tubular form, said legs having sleeves forming sockets at their upper ends receiving said tongues, braces connecting said legs, and preventing withdrawal of the tongues from the sockets, and an upper frame supported to rock upon said base plate.

7. In a teeter or see-saw, the combination of a base plate, having a plurality of outwardly projecting tongues struck therefrom,

a plurality of legs having sockets at their upper ends receiving said tongues, braces connecting said legs, and preventing withdrawal of the tongues from the sockets, a center-plate pivotally mounted on said plate and having upwardly projecting ears, and an upperframe having a trunnion mounted to rock on said ears.

8. In a teeter or see-saw, an upper frame having a disconnectible joint connection substantially at its middle point, rigid side straps extending downwardly from the joint connection, inclined brace bars secured toward the outer ends of the frame, with their inclined ends disposed adjacent the side straps, and a trunnion in the form of a bar passing through the side straps and the braces, said trunnion acting as an axis of rotation to fold the frame when the joint is disconnected.

9. In a teeter or see-saw, the combination of a pair of oppositely disposed substantially parallel side bars, a second pair of oppositely disposed substantially parallel side bars, a transverse bar forming a rocking trunnion for the see-saw, inclined braces having aligning openings receiving the trunnion and rigidly secured to the side bars toward their outer ends, substantially vertical side straps extending upwardly from the trunnion and connected with the aforesaid side bars for bracing the same, and removable means for connecting the first pair of bars to the second pair of bars and adapted to be removed to permit one pair of bars to be folded over the other pair of bars by a rotation on the axis of the trunnion.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand. i

ARTHUR B. CHRISTOPHER. 

